Paramount Hotel Group Adds Hotel Indigo Newark Downtown to Portfolio

Paramount Hotel Group, a growing full-service third-party hotel management company, announced today that it has been awarded the management contract for the Hotel Indigo Newark Downtown. Ethan Kramer, President of Paramount, made the announcement.

The Hotel Indigo is located at 810 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey at the southernmost end of the Passaic River, just one block from the Prudential Center and a short walk to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

The 12-story, 90,000 square-foot hotel building was erected in 1912 and designed by Cass Gilbert as the National State Bank. With exposed brick, beautiful windows, and unique loft configurations, each of the hotel's 108 guest rooms features decor and artwork that reflect the neighborhood's spirit of innovation and invention.

All rooms are equipped with iPads, from which guests can control room service, housekeeping service and window shades, among other features. A business center and fitness center are also on-site. A 4,000 square foot restaurant is located on the ground floor and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The signature, one-of-a-kind Ainsworth Rooftop Lounge provides a spectacular view of the New York City skyline. It is open to guests and non-guests alike and features a collection of classic cocktails, American noveau creations and a late-night menu.

“We are excited to have been selected to manage this Indigo hotel,” said Kramer. “With this change, Ownership is focusing on Paramount's core strengths to drive revenue, maximize profitability and provide a quality customer experience.”

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About Paramount Hotel Group

Formed in 1999, Paramount has a proven track record of success. Paramount's core team consists of former executives of Prime Hospitality Corp., with over 30 years of continuity and a highly personalized approach to hotel management. Paramount is comprised of three operating companies; Paramount Management Associates, a full service, third-party management company for select and full-service hotels; H-CPM, a hotel construction project management firm; and Book My Group, a national sales organization that specializes in group reservations. Paramount has earned its position as an industry leader by expertly managing all aspects of operations for a hotel, engaging in proactive and transparent communication with owners and maintaining strong relationships with all major brands. Paramount earns praise for its unique ability to create exceptional asset value through renovating, re-branding and repositioning hotels. The company is targeting third-party hotel management contracts with owners seeking enhanced financial returns. Additionally, Paramount identifies attractive hotel acquisition opportunities for existing and new capital partners.

Human Resources: An Era of Transition

Traditionally, the human resource department administers five key areas within a hotel operation - compliance, compensation and benefits, organizational dynamics, selection and retention, and training and development. However, HR professionals are also presently involved in culture-building activities, as well as implementing new employee on-boarding practices and engagement initiatives. As a result, HR professionals have been elevated to senior leadership status, creating value and profit within their organization. Still, they continue to face some intractable issues, including a shrinking talent pool and the need to recruit top-notch employees who are empowered to provide outstanding customer service. In order to attract top-tier talent, one option is to take advantage of recruitment opportunities offered through colleges and universities, especially if they have a hospitality major. This pool of prospective employees is likely to be better educated and more enthusiastic than walk-in hires. Also, once hired, there could be additional training and development opportunities that stem from an association with a college or university. Continuing education courses, business conferences, seminars and online instruction - all can be a valuable source of employee development opportunities. In addition to meeting recruitment demands in the present, HR professionals must also be forward-thinking, anticipating the skills that will be needed in the future to meet guest expectations. One such skill that is becoming increasingly valued is “resilience”, the ability to “go with the flow” and not become overwhelmed by the disruptive influencesof change and reinvention. In an era of transition—new technologies, expanding markets, consolidation of brands and businesses, and modifications in people's values and lifestyles - the capacity to remain flexible, nimble and resilient is a valuable skill to possess. The March Hotel Business Review will examine some of the strategies that HR professionals are employing to ensure that their hotel operations continue to thrive.